Remember the excitement you felt when you perused your first high school or college course catalog? Each topic presented one enticing topic after another. Wesley at Tehaleh resident Diane Olson experiences similar excitement every time she receives her Wesley U course guide. However, Diane helps determine what classes will appear each quarter at Wesley U.
“I was fascinated by Wesley’s commitment to lifelong learning when we first visited the Lea Hill campus four years ago,” says the lifelong educator. “I’ve been thrilled to volunteer for the Wesley U Resident Committee for the last three years.”
Dee Woods chose Wesley Bradley Park for its proximity to her family and to nature. A new friend encouraged her to join the Wesley U Resident Committee. She meets regularly with Paula Olson, Wesley U manager, and the other committee members to brainstorm course topics for the upcoming catalog.
Enjoying the class selection
“We may not come from academia, but as seniors, we still want to learn,” says Dee. “I often pick a topic I know nothing about and learn so much. I recently took a class called “Pharmacogenetics” about how medications are influenced by one’s genetic makeup. It was fascinating and instructive.”
Dee also enjoys the popular art classes.
“I had honestly never thought about basket weaving before,” she says. “But learning about the cultural role of basket weaving was enlightening. I even made something that looks like something. Working with my hands and mind was also a stimulating activity.”
Wesley U Resident Committee
The Wesley U Resident Committee is comprised of members from each of Wesley’s four communities. They meet quarterly to discuss class topics that range from crafts to science to philosophy. The committee breaks into smaller groups to drill down on topics, often sharing interests they’ve learned from non-committee residents. The breakout groups return the list of potential classes to Paula.
“How Paula finds instructors for all of these classes is beyond me,” says Diane, who knows her way around a lesson plan. She taught kindergarten for 20 years. “She is also a marvelous facilitator, which isn’t always easy given all the ideas our committee generates.”
The Wesley U catalog is filled with diverse selections, such as “Protest Music: Its History, Rise in the 20th Century, and Where We Find It Today;” “How Beer Might Save Democracy;” “Women in Aviation: From Passenger to Pilot.”
Diane and Dee regularly take an assortment of classes from several areas. Diane is partial to watercolors. Dee enjoys acrylic painting. They both praise Dale Lehman’s ongoing geology curriculum.
“I hated geology in college,” admits Diane. “But I find Dale’s classes absolutely amazing.”
Paula says the Wesley U Resident Committee serves a dual purpose of selecting interesting education topics and building community among residents.
“It’s hard to narrow down one favorite part of working with the committee,” says Paula, who has managed Wesley U for almost four years. “I’d say that simply interfacing with this committee of people who bring so much knowledge and inspiration to the table is special. From ‘big picture’ concepts to hyper-specific class ideas, everyone contributes in their own way to the shape of Wesley U.”
Diane touts Paula’s skills in communication and project management for Wesley U’s success.
“Wesley is full of people with lots of interests and opinions that we like to share,” she says. “Our Wesley U committee sits at a lovely u-shape table which enables all of us to contribute equally to what becomes, I believe, an impressive list of classes.”
Getting the word out
Diane, Dee and other committee members also participate in another key component of Wesley U: advocacy. They set up tables in their respective communities and share the new curriculum with other residents, highlight classes they might enjoy and, importantly, demonstrate how Wesley U is accessible for every resident. Residents can attend lecture and discussion classes in person, watch them on television or watch on their computers. There is also an on-demand video catalog tey can stream.
“If a class is doable, then Paula is going to figure out how to do it,” Diane says.
Wesley U is supported by Wesley Community Foundation, another facet dear to Diane.
“My husband, Cory, and I decided to move to Wesley four years ago when we’d had enough of raking leaves in our yard,” she says. “Cory asked if he could bring his prize dahlia bulbs with him. The Foundation funded the planting box and, after elk decimated his collection, a fence. His collection of over 100 dahlias now blooms every year.”
“Each campus has its own personality,” Paula says. “But overall, I’d say that Wesley lifestyle involves thriving. That might involve hobby groups, fitness classes, social events and in Wesley U’s case, educational programs. Wesley U is one avenue toward enriching life – it stimulates the mind and offers opportunities to engage with others.”
Dee, who is training for the 5K Sound to Narrows Walk, greatly enjoys the movement classes in addition to Wesley U and other programs.
“I was invited my first day here to participate in various activities. My new neighbors invited me to dinner,” she recalls.
“Wesley is a very welcoming and inclusive community,” adds Diane, also a Resident Ambassador. “This energy, stimulated by Wesley U, catches on all over campus. Come take a look at chair volleyball, a hilarious game with almost no rules, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.” Look for the spring Wesley U catalog to come out soon.